The Copernicus Masters 2018, Europe's leading innovation competition for Earth observation, is seeking ideas, applications, and business concepts from forward-looking SMEs, startups, universities, and individuals from the fields of business, research, and education. The application deadline is the end of June.
Copernicus Masters participants can submit their innovative Earth observation ideas from April 1 to June 30 in 16 individual competitions, supported by the largest number of world-class partners ever. The 2018 partners are the European Space Agency (ESA), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), CGI, Planet Inc., BayWa AG, Stevenson Astrosat Ltd., Airbus, Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd., and the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI).
"The Copernicus Masters has become a key driver of innovation in Earth observation. The solutions submitted to the competition not only benefit citizens but also bring numerous socio-economic benefits across various economic sectors,"
so Josef Aschbacher, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA.
Winner goes to satellite launch
ESA is one of the partner initiators of the Copernicus Masters and has offered a challenge to participants every year since 2011. Participants can showcase their innovative use of Earth observation data in a wide range of competitions, including the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Energy, Health, Sustainable Living, Smart Agriculture, Disaster Management, Maritime, Defense & Security, Forestry, Digital Transport, and Smart Cities.
For the second year in a row, the European Commission is launching six additional European competitions covering topics such as sustainable development, governance, data access, B2B applications, land monitoring, and emergency management. Participants will also have the opportunity to leverage additional satellite data from new competition partners to develop their solutions.
In addition to cash prizes, the challenge winners will receive access to an international network of leading Earth observation organizations, a significant contingent of satellite data, a crowdfunding platform, and business development support totaling over €600,000. The overall winner will also receive a VIP trip to a satellite launch in Kourou, valued at €10,000.
“Innovation competition as a European deal flow pipeline”
“We are very proud that the Copernicus Masters is playing such an active role in the commercialization of Earth observation services,”
so Thorsten Rudolph, Managing Director of Competition organizer AZO.
"Since 2011, a total of 76 winners have been selected in the competition. They prevailed over more than 3,100 participants from 73 countries, who submitted more than 1,300 innovative business ideas. These figures clearly demonstrate that the innovation competition serves as a European deal flow pipeline for Earth observation."
The Copernicus Masters is complemented by the Copernicus Accelerator, a program that supports the transformation of innovative ideas into commercially viable solutions to solve important challenges facing businesses and society today. All eligible winners of the 2018 Copernicus Masters will receive access to the Copernicus Accelerator program.
